Holidays

I hope that everyone is enjoying the holiday season, I know that I am. Christmas break has started and has allowed me to catch up with some pics and exchanges. I sent an exchange to Heidi from my ILCS group. I have a few pics of what I sent. I sent a prairie schooler santa, a large piece of 36 count linen, and a dmc light effects floss, and a pair of Christmas socks.

I received my exchange today from Wanda in Canada. She sent me a Jeanette Douglas biscornu pattern, a pair of doctor scholls socks, and a lovely card. Thank you Wanda!

Today, I mailed out the bookmark that I made for my daughter, Brianna. Boy did this bookmark become a chore. I had the bright idea that I would use all metallic threads on it, wow was that a toughie. It was the first time working with the metallics and I am not sure I want to work with them again! My daughter's middle name is Starleen, just like mine, and she wanted some stars on her bookmark. I made two cross stitch stars and then I added buttons. I liked the effect and I think that it turned out pretty good and I hope that she likes it.

I have received my Christmas present from my husband and I am LOVING IT! He bought me a Kindle! I have downloaded about two dozen free books. I finished one mystery, entitled, "Invisible" that was really good. It is a modern book, just one in their book specials. I am now reading "Initals Only" by Anna Katharine Green. Ms. Green was a precursor to Agatha Christie and was Dame Agatha's inspiration in writing. I am about half way through the book and it is really very good. It may have been written in 1912 but it is a classic mystery. What a great movie it would make.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful holiday and a great new year. By the way, when I reach 50 followers, I will do another giveaway. Merry Christmas everyone!

And the winner is .... Gretchen!

Mr. Aiden pulled a name out of a pail and the winner of the giveaway is GRETCHEN! Congratulations Gretchen. Please email me at angelparker63@aol.com with your address so that I can send your prize out. Thank you to everyone that participated. This was a lot of fun and I hope to do it again when I reach 50 followers.

Giveaway reminder and an update.

I will be conducting the giveaway for the Christmas stocking on November 17. Everyone that is a follower will be entered. If you are reading this and not a follower, come join in on the fun. There is also a giveaway going on at http://http//shelleysartsyfartsylife.blogspot.com.

I did get "Joyful and caring" back from the framers. It turned out beautiful. It is now hanging in the family room next to "strong and beautiful." I need to get "gentle and kind" finished and take it to the framers too.

I have started "Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow". I have not gotten much done. Between work and Mr. Aiden, I am lucky to have two hours a week to stitch.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog and leave such nice comments. It is very much appreciated.

Giveaway

It has been a month since I posted and I apologize. I have been very, very busy with work. I have been able to get a little bit of stitching in though. I have finished a good portion of Aiden's birth sampler. Now I need to add the bit at the bottom with his name and birthdate plus a little backstitching.

I ordered CHS's Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow and have started it. I will post a pic when I have a little bit more done. This will be a long term project. I am still working on "gentle and kind" by LHN and making bookmarks for my daughters, with Brianna receiving the first.

My little monkey, better known as Aiden, had his first "boy" haircut yesterday. I have a few before and after pics. This was a very traumatic event for grandma. Aiden doesn't look like a baby anymore, now he looks like he is going to be 3 in January. Aiden looks very serious in the pic!

I see that I have 17 followers now! Thank you! I appreciate you reading my blog and leaving comments. I am going to have a giveaway for my followers. If you are a follower or become a follower, I am going to enter your name on a drawing for a cross stitch Christmas stocking. It is a lovely kit. I will have Aiden pull out a name on November 17. That will allow me to mail the stocking to the winner and they may be able to work on it for this Christmas. Good luck to all of you.

Fall is here

I have been reading other people's blogs and enjoying their stitching pieces that represent fall. I love fall but fall in Florida is not like the fall's I experienced in Kentucky. I can remember driving to Fallsburg Elementary in October and passing some of the most beautifully colored trees. One was the most vivid scarlet and the other was gold. They were so gorgeous and after a rain their bark was almost black and a beautiful contrast for the bright colors. I don't have those gorgeous colors here in the Tampa area but you can still tell that it is fall. I got up this morning and it was actually 59 degrees! That little bit of a nip in the air put a spring in my step. I have been enjoying the migrating birds too. We have had a lot of small warblers visiting in our yard for the past few days.

I haven't had a chance to post a pic of my bookmark from Evalina in the Yukon. She had my name for the ILCS bookmark exchange.Evalina sent a beautiful card that she had made, the bookmark, and several packets of tea.Evalina has a really interesting blog that you should check out. She has already had snow and has some pics up.

I haven't had a lot of time to stitch but I have made a little progress on LHN's Little Women of Virtue, "Gentle and Kind." Saturday I pulled out Aiden's birth sampler and worked on it. I finished the giraffe! It really is a cute sampler and I think it will look nice when it is finished. I am suppose to pick up my framed, "Joyful and Caring" in a few weeks.

Thank you to everyone that has stopped by and taken a look and thank you to those of you that leave comments and those that have become followers. I really appreciate you taking the time to peruse my blog. Happy Stitching to everyone and enjoy your Fall.

A New Start, A New Finish, and Newly Framed

I ordered LHN's Women of Virtue, "Gentle and Kind" and have started it. I am going to label this one with my stepdaughter Jessica's name. She is a gentle and kind person and it is very fitting for her.

I finished LHN's Women of Virtue, "Joyful and Caring" and have labeled it with my daughter Brianna's name. I plan on taking it to the framer next week.

Speaking of the framer, I picked up my two framed pieces last week. They look fantastic. The nativity scene that I had made for Leanndra's birth year cleaned up so nicely. My LHN piece labeled with Leanndra's name looks very nice in its frame and I have it hanging in the family room. I am going to put Brianna's piece to the left of it, and Jessica's to the right.

I, also , wanted to upload a pic of the bookmark that I sent to Viv in England as part of a bookmark exchange in my ILCS group. I, also, sent her several packets of drink mix, a prairie schooler santa pattern , and a post card of KY. I sent the postcard because the bookmark was actually finished while I was visiting family in KY in August.

I appreciate all the comments that are left and I thank you for them. I hope everyone has a wonderful Labor Day weekend. I know that I will. We are heading to the beach this evening for a few hours. Nothing like the beauty of the ocean. Happy Stitching, Angel

Current Wip and Mr. Aiden

I have a few pics of my current wip, which is "joyful and caring" from Little Women of Virtue from LHN. I am going to label this one with my daughter, Brianna's name. I hope to have it finished by this weekend. I am going to the framers to pick up two finished pieces and I would like to be able to give her this piece to frame. Then I will order the next one to work for my stepdaughter, Jessica. I also have some pics of mr. cool with his shades on. He is such a ham! Thanks for reading and I really appreciate your comments!